Sunrise Church Podcast

If Jesus returned today, would you be ready? In Week 5 of our Parables series, Pastor Carlo Mendoza examines Jesus' sobering Parable of the Ten Virgins. This story reminds us that spiritual readiness cannot be borrowed, postponed, or delegated. Every person must be prepared for the return of Christ. You'll discover: Why spiritual preparation matters What Jesus teaches about readiness How to live w...

The Widow & Unjust Judge | Luke 18:1–8 What do you do when God seems silent? In Week 4 of our Parables series, Pastor David Gaunt teaches from the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Through a story of relentless faith and unwavering perseverance, Jesus encourages His followers to keep praying, keep trusting, and keep believing—even when answers don't come quickly. You'll discover: Why persistenc...

What happens when life puts your faith to the test? In Week 3 of our Parables series, Pastor John Hill explores Jesus' Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. Everyone experiences storms—but not everyone survives them the same way. Jesus reveals that the difference isn't hearing the truth; it's building your life on it. You'll discover: Why listening to Jesus isn't enough How obedience creates s...

Have you ever felt like God was being unfair? In Week 2 of our Parables series, Pastor Carlo Mendoza unpacks one of Jesus' most surprising stories. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard challenges our assumptions about fairness, comparison, and grace. Through this story, Jesus reveals that God's generosity is far greater than we often realize. You'll discover: Why grace will always feel unfai...

What if God has been more patient with you than you realize? In Week 1 of our summer series on the Parables of Jesus, Pastor Erik Wade explores the Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree. While many people assume God's patience means unlimited time, Jesus tells a different story. This powerful parable reveals both God's incredible mercy and the urgency of responding to Him before the opportunity passe...

What if some of the most impactful people in church history were people the world would have overlooked? In the final week of Women of the Bible, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia explores the remarkable women who helped shape and strengthen the early church. From Mary Magdalene and Lydia to Priscilla, Phoebe, Lois, and Eunice, these women invested their lives, resources, homes, influence, and faith into t...

What if God isn’t looking for the most gifted person in the room—but simply the one willing to say yes? In Part 3 of Women of the Bible, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia explores the remarkable story of Deborah and Jael—two ordinary women God used in extraordinary ways to change the course of Israel’s history. In a culture where they would have been overlooked, God elevated their faith, courage, and avail...

Why do we keep going back to things that never really satisfy us? In Part 2 of Women of the Bible, Pastor John Hill explores Jesus’ powerful encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Beneath the conversation about water is a deeper invitation—an invitation to stop drinking from empty wells and discover the only source that truly satisfies the soul. You’ll discover: Why success, rel...

In this Mother’s Day message, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia and his wife Kate kick off a new series Women of the Bible by exploring the powerful story of the unnamed Canaanite woman who fought for her daughter and refused to give up on Jesus. In one of the most surprising interactions in the Gospels, Jesus uses this moment to reveal what persistent, desperate faith truly looks like. You’ll discover: Wh...

What happens after we die… and what have we gotten wrong about it? In the final week of The Afterlife, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia answers some of the biggest questions that surfaced during the series—about communicating with the dead, whether “good people” go to Hell, and how Christianity compares to other religions.  This message brings clarity to confusion and points us back to the one truth that...

What if Hell isn’t just a word—but a real destination? In Week 3 of The Afterlife, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia confronts one of the most difficult truths Jesus ever taught. While culture jokes about Hell or ignores it altogether, Jesus spoke about it with clarity and urgency. This message reveals not only the reality and severity of Hell—but also the incredible hope that it can be avoided through a r...

What if Heaven isn’t just a distant hope—but your ultimate reality starting now? In Part 2 of the Afterlife series, Pastor David Gaunt challenges us to rethink everything we assume about Heaven. This message moves beyond vague ideas and anchors our hope in what Jesus clearly revealed: Heaven is real, it’s home, it’s happening now, and it’s worth everything. Heaven isn’t meant to be an afterthought...

What really happens after we die? Is there more beyond this life—or is this all there is? In Week 1 of The Afterlife, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia explores one of the most sobering and eye-opening teachings of Jesus. Through a powerful story in Luke 16, we’re confronted with eternal realities that most people avoid—but none of us can escape. You’ll discover: Why your soul outlives your body What Jesus...

What if the resurrection of Jesus isn’t just something to believe, but something that could change your life? On Easter Sunday, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia walks through the eyewitness accounts of the empty tomb and reveals why the resurrection isn’t just a moment in history—it’s the foundation of everything. Whether you’re unsure, convinced, or somewhere in between, this message will challenge you t...

What if the parts of your life that feel the most chaotic are actually the most intentional? As we conclude our Life of Joseph series, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia explores the final chapters of Genesis to show how God was weaving together every moment of Joseph’s life—from betrayal to blessing—into something beautiful. Through Jacob’s final words, Joseph’s response to fear, and one of the most powerf...

Life of Joseph // Part Eight: Hidden Dangers of the 'Good Life'  Have you ever looked at your life and wondered… “How did I get here spiritually?” In this message from Genesis 47, Pastor John Hill unpacks how both the comfortable seasons and the overwhelming seasons of life shape our trust in God—and why neither should define our faith. Through the story of Joseph and the journey of Israel, we dis...

Joseph’s Big Reveal: Part 7 || Pastor Steve Garcia Have you ever had good news you couldn’t wait to share? After years of betrayal, separation, and testing, Joseph finally reveals his identity to the brothers who sold him into slavery. What follows is one of the most emotional and powerful moments in all of Genesis. In this message by Lead Pastor Steve Garcia from our Life of Joseph series, we see...

Have you ever felt stuck in a conflict that just won’t move forward? In Part 6 of our Life of Joseph series, we step into one of the most powerful turning points in the story. Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt, and what unfolds reveals something remarkable—hearts that are beginning to change. Through tension, testing, and an unexpected act of sacrifice, we see how God moves people from bitterness...

What do you do when the people who hurt you most walk back into your life? In Week Five of our Life of Joseph series, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia takes us to Genesis 42 and an incredibly awkward family reunion. After 20+ years, Joseph finally comes face-to-face with the brothers who betrayed him. But instead of revenge, Joseph chooses the harder but more Christ-like path. This message shows us that r...

Have you ever been manipulated, deceived, used, or set up? It’s easy to become a victim of circumstances—but it’s dangerous to build your identity around victimhood. In Week Four of our Life of Joseph series, Pastor David Gaunt walks through Genesis 41 and shows how Joseph refused to let injustice define him. After 13 years of betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and prison, Joseph stood before Ph...

Life of Joseph – Joseph in Jail Have you ever felt like you did everything right… and still ended up in the wrong place? In Week Three of our Life of Joseph series, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia walks us through Genesis 39–40 and shows us what faithfulness looks like when life feels unfair. Joseph is falsely accused, forgotten, and left sitting in prison—but God was not absent. He was developing someth...

Why do some people walk away from temptation while others lean into it—and what makes the difference? In Week Two of our Life of Joseph series, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia walks us through the contrasting stories of Judah and Joseph in Genesis 38–39. Faced with powerful temptation, these two brothers respond in radically different ways—and their choices lead to very different outcomes. This message c...

Message Title: Death to the Dreamer - Part One Description: What do you do when God’s promises collide with painful circumstances? In the opening message of our new series Life of Joseph, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia walks through Genesis 37 and introduces us to a young man whose dreams from God seemed to die before they ever came true.  Betrayal, jealousy, injustice, and suffering mark the beginning...

Better than Spiritual Gifts: Made For This – Part 4 As we conclude our Made For This series, we’re reminded that spiritual gifts—while important—are not the most important thing. In this final message, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia walks us through 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 to show how God designed spiritual gifts to serve a greater purpose: building a unified, obedient, love-filled church that...

Made For This – Deeper Encounters, Not Shallow Experiences What if spiritual gifts were never meant to elevate individuals—but to transform lives and build the church? In Part Three of Made For This, Pastor John Hill walks through 1 Corinthians 12 to help us understand the purpose, power, and proper use of spiritual gifts.  Paul confronts a church that desired spiritual experiences without spiritu...